Supplemental press-base for printing-plates.



No MODEL.

No. 747,845.. PATENTED DEG. 22, 1903.

SEEEASH. SUPPLEMENTAL PRESS BASE PoR PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION lFILED `.llrNl-L. 2. 1903.

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v WJTNESSES:

MEM

UNITED STATES Patented December 22, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SUPPLEMENTAL PREss-BAsE-FOR PRIannue-PLATES,

sPEcIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters retest No. masaaeatea December 22,1903. Application filed June 2, 1903. Serial No. 159.788. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. BEACH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Supplemental Press-Bases for Printing-Plates,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to supplementary press beds, bases, or blocks,and the object is to provide a structure of this character which willhold all sizes andkinds of printing-plates at different distances apart,so that the margins between them may be regulated as desired.

A further object is to provide simple means for adjusting the plates toovercome the inequalities in the height of the. printing-surfacesthereof, thus obviating the necessity of the usualwunderlays, As aresult, plates of anysize'o' 'any number within the capacity of thepress may be employed in any position desired. v

The structure that at present is considered preferable is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings; but it will be understood that variouschanges may be made in the size, form, and details of constructionwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure lis a top plan View of the improved structure,showing plates in place thereon. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of oneend of the bed. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the opposite end,portions thereof being broken away'and shown in section. Fig. 4 is avertical sectional view through the bed, taken on the line 4 4 ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the clamp-blockslocated Vat the margins of the bed. Fig. 6 is a view in elevation of theactuating rack-bar. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of theholding-blocks invert# ed, and Fig. 8 is a similar view of one of themargin-fastening devices. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe holdingblocks. Fig. 10 is a View of the adjusting-screw detached.

The same reference-numerals are employed in designating similar partsthroughout the several figures.

In the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawingsasupplemental bed 10 is employed, having on` its under side spaced ribs11, that are preferably located diagonally of the bed. (Indicated inFig. 1.) Said Y bed is provided with spaced rows or series of threadedopenings 12, extending vertically through the same from top to bottomand being disposed between the ribs. These openings are normally closedby adj usting-screws 13,threaded into the same and having their up- -perends suitably slotted, said ends or heads the shan ks are adapted toscrew into the openings 12, the adj usting-screws being first removed.Certain of these holding devices that are disposed along the margins ofthe bed (designated a) are tapered, the thicker edges being undercut.Two of the edges of the bed are reduced in thickness to provideoutstanding anges 18, and to the outer edges of the lianges are securedby means of screws 19 strips 20, the upper portions of which projectabove said anges and are spaced from the bed, thus forming gutters.Extending into the bed from these edges are slots 2l, the lower portionsof which are enlarged to provide recesses 22. Spindles 23 are locatedlongitudinally in the recesses and have their ends journaled, as shownat 24, inthe strips and the inner end walls of the recesses. Theintermediate portions of the spindles are threaded and gear-wheels 25are attached to their outer ends, said vgear-wheels being 1ocatedin thegutters. Clamping-blocks 26 are slidably mounted on the bed over theslots 2l and are provided with depending ears 27, projecting throughsaid slots and having threadedengagementswiththespindles. The portionsof thev blocks projecting above the bed have their inner edges undercut,as shown at 28. In connection with these clamping devices an actuatingrack-bar 29 is employed which is adapted to lit in thegutters andpreferably has a suitable handle 30.

The plates to be clamped are shown gener- These IOO ally at 3l, saidplates having beveled edges 32. These plates are laid upon the bed l0and can be properly adj usted as to height by means of the variousadjusting-screws 12, that may be located beneath them. This, it will beobserved, does away with the necessity of underlays usually employed.The fastening devices are then located about the inner edges of theplates and also constitute means for spacing said plates apart, so thatmargins of dierent Widths can be obtained. These will be clearly evidentby reference to Fig. I, wherein the same blocks are employed forobtaining two different widths of margins, the oblong shape of theblocks therefore being an important feature, as will be apparent. Thefastening-blocks are held in place by screws, which are threaded intothe same openings that receive the adjusting devices, and therefore saiddevices are interchangeable, requiring openings of a single size. Thoseadjustin-gscrews which are not covered by the plates are left in placeinthe bed, and thus prevent the openings being lled with ink, grease, anddirt. The inner and intermediate fastening devices having been properlypositioned to place the plates in the desired relation the clampingblocks are brought rin to engagement with the free edges of said platesby revolving the spindles, this movement being accomplished by theactuating-rack already described. The result is that the plates aresecurely fastened in position and yet can be adjusted or removed withease and despatch. Thus it will be seen that the various objects pointedout in the preliminary part of the specification are accom,- plished bymeansv that are simple, can be easily and cheaply manufactured, andapplied to any of the ordinary types of bedpresses.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a press-base for printing-plates, the combination of a bed havinga multiplicity ot' threaded openings therein, adjusting-screwsregistering in said openings and filling the latter with their headsarranged to engage beneath the printing-plate, and a plate-holdingdevice including screws interchangeable with the adjusting-screws in anyof the said threaded openings.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination with a bedhaving a series of openings extending into the same, from its upperface, of adj usting-screws threaded into the openings and having headsof substantially the same diameter as the openings, said screws normallyfilling the openings with the heads iiush with the upper face of thebed, and plate-holding devices including screws which are constructed tobe threaded into the openings when the adjusting-screws are removed.

3. In a press-base for printing-plates, the combination of a bed-platehaving a series of spaced ribs on its under side, and a multiplicity ofthreaded openings piercing the same in the intervals between the ribs,and separate plate adjusting and fastening screws interchangeable in thesame openings.

4. In a press-base for printingplates, the combination of a bed-plateprovided with a multiplicity of threaded openings, adjustingscrewsnormally filling the openings, and plate-holding devices comprisingrotatable oblong blocks having engaging portions at all of their edges,and fastening-screws for said blocks interchangeable with any of theadjusting-serews.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination with abed-plate having a plural'ity of openings extending into the same fromits upper face, adjust-ing-screws threaded into the openings andnormally having their heads iiush with the upper face of the bed, saidscrews being movable above the bed to form supports for a plate placedthereon, and plate-fastening devices comprising oblong blocks adapted tobe placed upon the bed and having undercut edges and screws passedthrough the blocksand of proper size to engage in the openings of thebed when the adj usting-screws are removed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. BEACH.

Witnesses:

WM. C. DEANE, RoBT. H. PARKER.

